EDO5509 - Fontmell Down, Fontmell Magna

A small set of size samples was taken from Fontmell Down. This was from the shallow cross-ridge dyke ditch exposed in the digging of a water pipe trench. Samples were taken from each the primary fill (layer 6), the eroded bank material (layer 5a), secondary fill (layer 5) and the stabilisation horizon (layer 4). These samples were of between 1300g and 200g each in order to gain a good sample of shells in a potentially sparse area. On average shell assemblages were actual high and nearly averaged 250 shells per kilogram and were dominated overall by open country snails, though a number of shade-loving species were located in the primary fills at the base of the ditch. (No dates for the duration of the works was given, hence date of the report as the duration of the groundworks).